Spring-bar jack bed



Oct-1, 1 929. K. o. WAECHTLER 1,730,023

' SPRING BAR JACK BED Filed 001 10, 1927 Z'SheetS-Sheet l Kufi' Oswahl WaechHe-r N V EN R.

' A TTORNEYSQ Filed Oct. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D w A Kurf Oswald WaecHIer- INVENTOR. v 22 v v i I Patented @et. 1, 1229 xunr OSWALD wancnrnnn, or wns'r READING, rnnnsxnvanra, assienon ro anxrmn MACHINE worexs, or wxomssme, rnnnsxnvanm, a oonrona'rron on PENNSYLVANIA SPRING-BAR JACK BED Application filed October 10, 1927. Serial No, 225,160.

My invention relates to straight knitting machines made up of a series of sections, each adapted ordinarily to produce a full-fashioned stocking fabric; and it'more particu- 5 larly relates to sectional jack-bed units for such machines, the main object in view being to satisfactorily provide for required accurate joint operation of the sinker-operating jacks in all the sections, notwithstanding the well known difiiculties caused by the combining of the simultaneously operated sections in a single elongated machine and the rapid speeding which economic production calls for. The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred construction, and the novel features are clearly defined in the subjoined cia'i'ms.

i Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of one 2 of the'machine sections, showing the usual continuous center barwith my complete jackbed mechanism applied thereto; the usual jack-operating slur cam and .means for jointly operating the sectional springbars being shown and' the jack being indicated in projected position.

Fig. 2 is a partial view corresponding with Fig. 1 but showing the springs in engagement with the retracted jacks.

I Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an end portion of'my improved jack bed, showing the separate spring bar'rockably carried thereby.

The type of knitting machine to which my invention relates is commonly made up of a considerable numberof knitting sections having a common center bed 10 extending lengthwise thereof; the simultaneous o eration of the usual needles sinkers and d vl ers in each section being primarily controlled by a common longitudinal cam shaft in well known" manner, the setting forth of which is not necessary to a full understanding of my present invention. This relates only to the special jack-bed mechanismillustrated in connection with said center bed; and it will ployed, as indicated, forjointly rocking the separate spring bars of the several jack-bed 5 cam shaft,

be understood that the means preferably em-.

units, are readily operable from such usual- As usual, the separate jack-bed 11 which is provided for each machine section, is adjustably secured to the center bed 10; and the series of jacks 12 for operating the corre"- sponding sinkers when projected by the usual slur cam 13, are pivotally mounted therein at 14 and arranged between fixed spacing or partition plates 15;'a1l substantially as set 'forth in Zwicky patent No. 1,371,535 of March 15, 1921 excepting as to my present improvements now to be described.

In order to properly control the jacks 12 it has been found necessary to supplement the projecting action'thereon, as commonly effected by the slur cam 13, by providing a corresponding series of springs 20, adapted to press upon a bell crank arm 21 on the jacks after the latter have been positively projected so as to avoid rebound and insure proper'positioning of the jacks; this supplementary pressing action being especially important when the machine is operated at the high speed required for economic production, and the retaining of the jacks in retracted position being also efiected by the springs as indicated in Fig.2. In usin such springs 20 however it is essential that t ey be maintained/ in accurate register with the correspond-' ing jacks, as well as that the latter be maintained in accurate register with the sinkers operated thereby,-such accurate registering of all the co-operating knitting devices involving recognized practical difficulties owing to the close spacing thereof lengthwise of these longitudinally extended sectional machines and the varying contraction and expansion of the lengthwise parts.

My improved construction illustrated provides first'for independently adjusting each sectional series of springs 20 to the corresponding. sectional series of jacks 12, so that the usual requiredadjustment of the latter will involve no readjustment of the springs; and second for"; advantageously insurin maintenance ofpioper operating contact 0 each spring with its particular jack during the rockingmovement of the springs in engaging the jacks. To this end I provide eachyjack bed, as shown, with spaced-apart rigid bearing brackets 22, 22, and rockably fro mount in said bearings a separate spring bar gage the several jack-arms, and means for 25 for each sectional jack bed; the series of ]ointly rocking the spring bars of the several springs 20 being rigidly clamped to said bar sections.

in registering relation to the series of jacks 12 mounted in said bed, and being longitudinally movable with the jack bed in any required adjustment of the latter. Each sectional spring bar 25, as shown, has a rocker-arm extension 26, Which is operated by a separate lever 27 fixed to a common full-length shaft 28; required rocking movement being readily imparted to the latter in ordinary manner, not indicated, from the usual fulllength cam shaft of the machine.

The free end 23 of each spring 20 is shaped so as to engage the arm 21 of the corresponding pivoted jack 12 for exerting a j ack-projecting pressure thereon as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby rebound of the jack is prevented; or to yieldably hold the jack in retracted position as indicated in Fig. 2. For insuring proper operating contact of each narrow spring-end 23 with the correspondingly narrow jack arm 21. I. provide positive guideways for the respective swinging springs 20, by forming a guide-extension 31 on each fixed partition plate between the jacks, so that each spring-end 23 must swing between opposed guide-extensions 31 into accurate engagement with a jack-arm 21, as determined by the 7 simultaneous rocking of the separate spring bars 25 in each section.

It will be readily seen that my improvements thus fully set forth and clearly defined in the following claims, greatly facilitate the securing and maintenance of accurate adjustment and co-operation of the knitting parts under the disturbing conditions incident to the customary combining of numerous knitting sections in a single straight machine.

What I claim is:

1.- In a sectional knitting machine having a continuous center bed a jack bed unit for each section adjustably secured to said 'bed and comprising a series of pivotally mounted positively operated jacks formed with springengaging lever arms, fixed partitions between said jacks having spring-guide portions extending beyond said jack arms and a separate spring bar rockably mounted in fixed bearings on the jack bed and carrying a series of jaek-arm-engaging springs arranged to swing between the extending guide portions of adjacent partitions; and means for j ointly rocking the separate spring bars of the several sections.

2. In a sectional knitting machine having a continuous center bed'; ajack bed unit for each section adjustably secured to said bed and comprising a series ofpivotally mounted positively operated jacks formed with springengaging lever arms, and separate spring bars for the several sections each rockably mounted in fixed brackets on the jack bed and carrying a series of springs arranged to swingably en- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KURT OSVVALD WAECHTLER. 

